Federer and Henin Make it a Ho-hum U.S. Open

Don't be misled by the title of this article. This year's U.S. Open has been filled with exciting matches and incredible drama. Every night seems to have matches that go the distance, many decided by last set tie-breakers including my personal favorite of the tournament, James Blake grinding out a win against a fiery Fabrice Santoro.

Despite all of the tremendous tennis there is one thought that lingers in the back of my brain. It's a dirty little secret that everyone already knows, but doesn't want to believe. Deep down, we already knows who is going to win.

Lets be honest, has anyone who has watched Federer or Henin recently really seen any chinks in the armor? Both players only seem to play better as the competition becomes fiercer. Federer made Andy Roddick's supreme effort in the quarter-finals seem almost futile. Henin had her way with possibly the most talented player in tennis, Serena Williams 7-6, 6-1.

Despite the seemingly invulnerable play of Henin and Federer, most fans seem content to live with the hope that some one is left to rise up and challenge these two juggernauts.

On the men's side that person would have to be Novak Djokavic. They'll say that he is a number one player in the making. They'll talk about how he beat Federer for the first time in their last match against each other in the finals of Montreal. They'll look for weaknesses in Federer's game (good luck), and they'll talk about ways Djokavic needs to try to expose them. They will try to build up hype for the match, but just like me, deep down they really won't believe. They won't believe it because they know that Roger Federer is at his best when it counts the most. The Federer that you will see in the finals of the U.S. Open will not be the same Federer who lost to Novak Djokavic in Montreal.

I'll admit that Justine Henin is not a total lock to win like Roger Federer. She has shown vulnerability in the past, and doesn't just roll out of bed and win Grand Slams. However, you can tell by watching her that she is on top of her game in this year's U.S. Open.